Gripper loom



Jan. 16, 1951 w. H. EDWARDS 2,538,674

GRIPPER LOOM Filed May 24, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 16, 1951 w. H. EDWARDS 2,538,674

GRIPPER LOOM Filed May 24, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 16,1951 w. H. EDWARDS GRIPPER LOOM 4,SheetsShe et 3 Filed May 24; 1949 mum'l'uummlml HII I lllllll IHHH Jan. 16, 1951 w, H, EDWARDS 2,3

GRIPPER LOOM Filed May 24, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Jan. 16, 1951 STATES PA F CE GRIPPER LooM Wilfrid Haynes Edwards, Pinley, England Application May 24, 1949, Serial'No. 95,041

In Great Britain May 3-1, 1947 'zociaims. (clin -1'27.)

1 The invention relates to weaving looms, and is of special application in the weaving of hat or strip material.

In the weaving of flat or strip material it is necessary that the strips forming the weft shall be fed through the warp with the same surface uppermost in each case. This cannot be'efiected when using Weaving looms employing a shuttle.

The invention has among its objects to provide a weaving loom in Which the use of a reciprocating shuttle is avoided; the construction of the loom simplified and the speed and efficiency of operation increased.

According to the invention, a Weaving mom is provided having a rotary Weft action which carries the weft thread or strip transversely across or through the warp into position in the woven product.

According to the invention moreover, a support to carry the weft may be provided as a beam or platform that is rotatable about a vertical axis and that supports one or more arm's rotatable upon a vertical axis positioned at the extremities of the beam or at the periphery of the platform, the said arms being geared to a stationary gear on the axis of rotation of the beam or platform in such manner that the arm "maintains its orientation during the rotation 'of the beam or platform, so that the arm or arms are presented normally or at a determined angle to the direction of the warp and serve in traversing the warp to carry the weft across the warp into position adjacent the last laid pick of Weft in the woven material.

According to the invention furthermore, a *single beam or platform may be used in co-operation with two warp frames or mechanisms, that is to say, two looms, that. are spaced apart to permit of the disposition and rotation of the beam or platform between them, and that lie parallel, the woven material on the frames being disposed at opposite ends; thus, the gripper arms for the weft thread or strips may be mounted .on a rotatable beam at a position adjacent the warp to retain their parallel relation in the rotation of the beam, and may be adapted to-engage'as by means of grippers the weft threads or strips which are supplied on endless conveyor mechanism at the opposite side of and parallel with the warp, means being provided to cut out the thread or strip and to move it into its final position in the woven material as by rotating'br'ushes or a swinging comb, and the movements of all the operating parts being synchronised with the rotational speed of the beam carrying thereonveyor arms.-

The rotatable beam may be 'rotatedb'y means of a gear wheel or the equivalent which is anchored to the beam and loosely mounted onits pivot, the central gear then serving to drive a chain of gear wheels mounted in driving engagement on the beam, and culminating in a gear Wheel at each end of the beam, to each of which end gear wheels avertical arm is secured, whereby in the rotation of the beam the gripper arms mounted on the vertical arms will always maintain their parallel positions while moving transversely of the warp'threads or strips.

The weft supplies may be wound on bobbins carried on an endless conveyor belt which is operated to move insynchronism with thelrotatable beam so that the weft strip or thread may be gripped by grippers secured to the ends of the arms and which may be synchronously operated to carry the strip or thread across the warp and to release it at or near its final position in the woven material.

The thread from the bobbin may belied through a tube or the equivalent mounted on the bobbin spindle so that the cut end of the thread i's'always in the same position in the tube to be gripped by the gripper arms. Means such as a light. spring or the equivalent maybe mounted in the time so as frictionally to retain the out .efid'of the bobbin thread in position to be gripped on each subsequent rotation of the gripper arms.

According to the invention furthermore, the weft supply may comprise instead of bobbins mounted to travel on an endless belt in a direction parallel to the warp, a magazine for the weft supply from which each thread may be fed by a piston or the equivalent at the appropriate time, to a position to be gripped by theg'r ipper mechanism. Guide members may be secured at the gripping position so that in the final .stage of its travel, the gripper mechanism is directed on an'exact path to grip-the weft-thread.

According to the invention, the gripper arms may be formed as tubular members to contain the means forlgrippingthe weft threads or strips. The gripper a-rms mechanism may comprisevertical rotatable tubular members mounted at or near theextremities of the rotatable beam or platform and horizontal tubular members secured as by welding, at the upper end of the vertical members, and thread or strip gripping jaws .inountcd at the projecting ends of the horizontal members operated through spring controlled rods mounted in the tubular members to open and close the gripping jaws at the appropriate times Any suitable means operated synchronously with the beam and conveyor mechanism may be provided to sever the weft strip or thread from its feeding bobbin.

Instead of the conventional swinging comb or reed for engaging the cut strip or thread to beat it up into its final position in the woven material, rotating brushes may be provided with their axes in alignment with the direction of. the weft strip or thread.

According to the invention furthermore, instead of rotating brushes or a swinging comb, the weft thread or strip may be caused to move into its final position in the woven product by bein passed between pairs of rollers mounted at opposite positions adjacent the edges of the warp with the spindle or axles oifset centre so that the threads or strips are frictionally gripped,

and a tension is applied to the weft threads or strips before they are cut.

Thus, the weft thread or strip is held under control while the shed is changing and locked in position on the reversing of the heddles.

The invention further comprises the features of construction hereinafter described.

The invention is diagrammatically illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective of one form of loom in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a corresponding plan; the path of the weft arms being indicated in dot-and-dash lines,

Figure 3 is a corresponding side elevation,

Figure t is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of the beam for controlling and supporting the weft arms,

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of a weft arm and thread gripping mechanism in the open position,

Figure 6 is a part sectional elevation of the gripping mechanism engaging the thread or strip,

Fig. '7 is a modification or" bobbin support, showing curved guides to locate the nozzle of the r pp Figure 8 is a part plan of the gripper nozzle,

Figure 9 is a plan of the weft supporting rollers for gripping the cut therad or strip before the warp threads are reversed, and showing the knife for cutting the weft,

. Figure 10 is a side elevation of Figure 9, and f Figure 11 is a fragmentary view of the finished product.

In carrying the invention into effect according 5 to the construction, illustrated in the drawings, the 100m includes conventional mechanism, such as heddles i for moving the warp shed, and means for taking up the woven material. The taking up means may comprise a feed roller or warp beam 2 from which the warp threads are carried. through eyes 3 in the pair of adjacently disposed hedclles I, which are vertically reciprocated by means of 'cam sectors 1', which may be rotated from the main drive of the loom in synchronisation with :the other operative and moving parts of the loom as hereinafter described. The woven material is then wound on a roller 5 after passing over a guide roller 6.

Instead of the usual shuttles for passing the 1 weft threads between the shed, the weft threads ,are according to the invention drawn between the warp threads by horizontal gripper arms 8 which are mounted at the upper ends of vertical supporting arms 7 carried at the extremities of a rotating beam, 9.

The beam 3 consists of upper and lower plates 55;, M respectively, held in spaced relation by distance members 52, and having mounted between the plates gear wheels l3, which at the centre engage a stationary gear wheel M fixed on the vertical shaft l5 about which the beam 9 1'0- tates, and at each end engaging gear wheels 46, secured on the ends of the arms 8.

The beam El is rotated by means of a worm wheel ll advantageously secured on the underside of the lower plate ll of the beam 9 by means of a worm is carried on a worm shaft i9 (Figure 2). The shaft [9 through chain and worm gearing 2@, 21 rotates the shaft 22 carrying the cam sectors s for imparting a reciprocatory movement to the heddles I.

It will thus be understood that in the rotation of the beam 53 about the central stationary shaft 45, the griper arms F, 8, are carried round on the ends of the beam 9, always maintaining their orientation.

The gripper mechanism (Figures 5, 6 and '7) comprises the arms 7 and 8 formed as two tubular members disposed at right angles, one i, being vertical and the other 8, horizontal, and connected together as by welding, to present a continuous hollow passage of cylindrical section.

The vertical gripper arms l are mounted at or near the end of the rotating beam 9 in bearings and are in geared engagement through the gear wheel it with the gear wheels l3, it on the beam 9, through which, from the main drive, such as an electric motor 23, it is rotated relatively to the beam 9.

Concentrically mounted in upper and lower bearings 2 25 respectively, within the vertical gripping ar n l is a rod 28 of circular section, projecting at its lower end from the tube and carrying at its end a cam follower 2? which is adapted to engage vertical cams 28 formed on the periphery of a stationary circular plate 29, concentrically mounted with respect to the central shaft it about which the beam 9 rotates, and advantageously positioned beneath the beam.

The cams 28 may advantageously be formed with a gradual slope 3%; followed by a steep slope 3i for the purpose hereinafter described.

A downward pull is exerted on the rod 26 by means of a coil-spring 32 mounted at one end on an annular shoulder 33 formed at the lower end of the lower bearing 25 for the rod 25, and at the other end on the shoulder 35 of the cam follower 2!.

At the upper end, the cam rod 26 is provided of progressively decreasing diameter and extends through the upper bearing 24. On one part of reduced diameter 3"! of the rod 28 is secured a downwardly tapering or inverted cone The horizontal gripper arm 8 is or" a smaller diameter than the vertical arm 1, and is secured at the upper end of the vertical arm 5 at the upper end, in a position such that the rear end of a gripper-actuating rod 2S, which is concentrically mounted in the horizontal arm 3 bears against the wall of the inverted cone 3&3. The rod 26 is formed with a bevelled contact face 38 so as to be adapted to slide on the surface of the cone 35.

The gripper-actuating rod 2-5 is mounted in front and rear cylindrical bearings 39, 39 respectively, in the horizontal gripper arm 3, a coiled spring 4!] being mounted between the rear bearing 39 and a collar ll secured at the rear end of the gripper-actuating rod 26 to maintain the bevelled face-of the end of the rod in continuous contact with the surface of the cone 3E.

' The forward bearing 39 for the gripper-aetuating rod 25 is mounted'to project beyond the end of the horizontal gripper arm 8 in the form of a nozzle 42 having a tapering :end'and a flat rectangular opening 53.

Thegripper jaws 4 3 are secured to the re" 'duced end-of the 'gripperactuating rod 25' and are formed as steel strips which in the normal position are urged bythe tapering form of the no'zzleto'lie with their ends adjacent each other, but not in contact.

The weft threads are carried on bobbins El which-are supported on a conveyor belt or chain '48 (Figures l and '2) operable by chain gearing 49, forming the main drive of the loom, thus ensur-i'ng synehonisation of movement. The "bobbins or weft'supply means are secured to the endless conveyor by any suitable connection which will positively position them during rotation of the endless conveyor. A bayonet connection or any othersuitable means known to the art may be used at this point. The bobbins i'i may be of frusto-conical form carrying at their upper ends a cylindrical projecting funnel 59 (Figures 6' and 7 through which the weft thread passes to project through a lateral opening 51 having guide members 52 flared outwardly at the ends 53 for guiding the ends of the grip-per mechanism when the thread is gripped.

In operation, the gripper arms i, S, are rotated relatively to the beam 9 and the horizontal gripper arm 8 is carried across or through the warp while maintaining its orientation.

,At the appropriate time, the weft thread is seized by the gripper mechanism, the cam follower 27 at this position travelling downwardly over an abrupt slope 3! on the cam 28 to draw the inverted cone 36 downwardly, thus forcing the gripper-actuating rod 26' forwardly whereby the gripper jaws A l, due to the restricted rectangular opening 33 in the nozzle '42 are caused to move together and grip the weft thread or strip. The weft thread or strip is then carried by the gripper mechanism across the warp, the bobbin feed continuing so that the weft thread is always held substantially at right angles or at the desired angle, to the warp, and is fed to rollers 54 (Figure at which position the cam follower 27 on' the cam rod 26 engages on the gradual slope Si), the cam 28 formed on the circular cam plate 29 which forces the cam rod 25 upwardly to permit the inward movement of the gripperactuating rod 26 and the gradual separation of the gripping jaws M to release the weft thread.

Immediately before the weft thread is released by the gripper mechanism, the thread passes between two pairs of skew rollers 5d mounted on a frame 55 between which rollers it is frictionally gripped. In its further movement into position the thread is severed by severing mechanism 58 of any suitable type known inthe art, and the free end simultaneously released by the gripper mechanism, to leave a length of weft thread between the rollers. The thread is then beaten up into position in the strip already woven by a swinging comb or reed, by brushes or in any suitable manner.

Instead of endless'conveyor mechanism for carrying the bobbins, the bobbins may be projected into the position for the thread to be gripped, or may be released under gravity to take up the appropriate position for the gripping of the thread.

The rollers *54, due' to their being mounted with their. spindles or shafts set at an angle: serve to maintain the thread or strip undertension.

In Figure ll there is shown a fragment ofmaterialwoven from flat'strips. By using a number of bobbins, a variety of threads or strips-of dif- 'ferent colours may be used.

It will be understood that in the loom accord- I ing to the invention there'is no'twisting 'of' the thread as in known weaving looms-operating looms using the flying shuttle.

I claim:

1. In a weaving loom wherein a "shedding means has a plurality of warps running therethrough and a take-up means is provided forth'e woven material, a weft laying mechanism com prising a weft carrying arm, driven meansfor .rotatably moving said arm transversely through sheds formed by the shedding means and means for holding said arm at a predetermined angle with respect to said warps during rotation there of, whereby the weft is carried by a rotary movement transversely across the warp into position in the woven product. 2. In a weaving loom wherein a shedding means has a plurality of warps running therethrough and a take-up means is provided for the woven material, a weft laying mechanism comprising a weft carrying arm, a rotatable member driven in timed relation with said shedding means and carrying said arm transversely through sheds formed by the shedding means and gear means associated with said arm for holding it at a predetermined angle with respect to said warps during rotation thereof, whereby the weft is carried by a rotary movement transversely across the warp into position in the woven product.

3. In a weaving loom wherein a shedding means has a plurality of warps running therethrough and a take-up means is provided for the woven material, a weft laying mechanism comp-rising a weft carrying arm, driven means for rotatably moving said arm transversely through sheds formed by the shedding means in timed relation with said shedding means, a stationary gear element concentric with the axis of rotation of said driven means, and gear means associated with said arm and cooperating with said stationary gear element for holding said arm 'at a predetermined angle with respect to said warps during rotation thereof, whereby the weft is carried by a rotary movement'transversely across the warp into position in the woven product.

- 4. In a weaving lo'om wherein ashedding. means has a plurality of warps running ther'ethrough and a take-up means is provided for the woven material, a weft laying mechanism comprising a weft carrying arm, a rotatable member driven-in timed relation with said shedding'means, and. carrying said arm transversely through sheds formed by the shedding means,gear means asso ciated with said arm for holding said arm-at a predetermined angle with respect to said warps during rotation thereof, and a weft gripper posi tioned at an end of said arm, whereby the weft is carried by a rotary movement transversely across the warp into position in the" woven product.

' 5. In a weaving loom wherein a shedding means has a plurality of warps running therethrough and a take-up means is provided for the woven material, a weft laying mechanism comprising a weft carrying arm, a vertically opening weft gripper positioned at an end of said arm, driven means for rotatably moving said arm transversely through sheds formed by the sheddin means, means for holding said arm at a predetermined angle with respect to said shed during rotation thereof, whereby the weft is carried by a rotary movement transversely across the warp into position in the woven product, and cam operated means associated with said arm for opening and closing said weft gripper in timed relation with said arm rotation.

6. In a weaving loom wherein a shedding means has a plurality of warps running therethrough and a take-up means is provided for the woven material, a weft laying mechanism comprising a weft carrying arm, driven means for rotatably moving said arm transversely through sheds formed by the sheddin means, and means for holding said arm at a predetermined angle with respect to said shed during rotation thereof, and weft supply means acting in timed relationship with said Weft carrying arms, whereby the weft is carried by a rotary movement transversely across the warp into position in the woven product.

7. In a weaving loom wherein a shedding means has a plurality of warps running therethrough and a take-up means is provided for the woven material, a weft laying mechanism comprising a weft carrying arm, a rotatable member driven in timed relation with said shedding means and carrying said arm transversely through sheds formed by the shedding means, gear means associated with said arm for holding said arm at a predetermined angle with respect to said shed during rotation thereof, and weft supply means acting in timed relation with said weft carrying arms, whereby the weft is carried by a rotary movement transversely across the warp into position in the woven product.

8. In a weaving loom wherein a shedding means has a plurality of warps running therethrough and a take-up means is provided for the woven material, a weft laying mechanism comprising a weft carrying arm, driven means for rotatably moving said arm transversely through sheds formed by the shedding means, in timed relation with said shedding means, a stationary gear element concentric with the axis of rotation of said driven means, and gear means associated with said arm and cooperating with said stationar gear element, and means for holding said arm at a predetermined angle with respect to said warps during rotation thereof, and weft supply means acting in timed relation with said weft carrying arms, whereby the weft is carried by a rotary movement transversely across the warp into position in the woven product.

9. In a weaving loom wherein a shedding means has a plurality of warps running therethrough and a take-up means is provided for the woven material, a weft laying mechanism comprising a weft carrying arm provided with weft gripping means, driven means for rotatably moving said arm transversely through sheds formed by the shedding motion, and means for holding said arm at a predetermined angle with respect to said warps during rotation thereof, and weft supply means acting in timed relation with said weft carrying arms, said weft gripper carrying one end of a weft and said weft supply means carrying the other, whereby the weft is carried by a rotary movement transversel across the warp into position in the woven product.

10. In a weaving loom wherein a shedding means has a plurality of warps running therethrough and a take-up means is provided for the woven material, a weft laying mechanism comprising a weft carrying arm, a vertically opening weft gripper positioned at an end of said arm, driven means for rotatably moving said arm transversely through sheds formed by the shedding motion, and means for holding said arm at a predetermined angle with respect to said warp during rotation thereof, cam operated means associated with said arm for opening and closing said weft gripper in timed relation with said arm rotation, and weft supply means acting in timed relationship with said weft carrying arms, whereby the weft is carried by a rotary movement transversely across the warp into position in the woven product.

11. In a weaving loom wherein a shedding means has a plurality of warps running therethrough and a take-up means is provided for the woven material, a weft laying mechanism comprising a rotatable member at one side of said warps, a movable weft supply means at the opposits side of said warps, the weft supply means and the rotatable member each being positioned between the shedding means and the take-up means, the weft supply means, the rotatable member and the shedding means being driven in timed relation with one another, a weft carrying arm carried by said rotatable member, gear means associated with said arm for holding it at a predetermined angle with respect to said warps during rotation of said rotatable member, whereby said arm will be rotatably moved transversely across said warps, a weft gripper carried by said weft carrying arm, said weft supply means being provided with means for presenting an unlaid weft in a position to be gripped by said weft gripper, means associated with said weft carrying arm for actuating said gripper in timed relation with the movement of said 'vveft carrying means and said rotatable member, whereby the weft gripper grips the weft from said weft supply means, the movement of the weft supply means and the rotatable member adjacent said warps being from the shedding means toward the take-up means, whereby the weft supply means carries one end of a weft and the weft carrying arm carries the other end of a weft and thereby positions it adjacent the last laid weft.

12. In a weaving loom wherein a shedding means has a plurality of warps running therethrough and a take-up means is provided for the woven material, a weft laying mechanism comprising a rotatable member at one side of said warps, an endless conveyor at the opposite side of said warps, the conveyor and the rotatable member each being positioned between the shedding means and the take-up means, and the conveyor, the rotatable member and the shedding means being driven in timed relation with each other, a weft carrying arm carried by said rotatable member, a weft gripper carried by said weft carrying arm, a weft supply means positioned on said endless conveyor, said weft supply means being provided with means for presenting an unlaid weft in a position to be gripped by said weft gripper, means associated with said weft carrying arm for opening and closing said gripper in aeaaem "9E5 timed relation with .the movement of said conveyor. and said rotatable. member, whereby the weft gripper grips the weft from said weft supply means, the movement of the endless conveyor and the rotatable member adjacent said warps being from the shedding means toward the take-uplmeans, whereby the weft supply means carries. one end of a weft and the weft carrying arm carries the other end of a weft and thereby positions it adjacent the last laid weft.

13. In a .weaving loom wherein, a shedding means has a plurality of warps. running there-.

through and a take-up means is provided for the woven material, a weft laying mechanism comprising a rotatable member at one side of said warps, an endless conveyor at the opposite side of said warps, the conveyor and the rotatable member each being positioned between the shedding means and the take-up means, the conveyor, the rotatable member and the shedding means being driven in timed relation with each other, a weft carrying arm carried by said rotatable member, gear means associated with said arm for holding it at a predetermined angle with respect to said warps during rotation of said rotatable member, whereby said arm will be rotatably moved transversely across said warps, a weft gripper carried by said weft carrying arm, a weft supply means positioned on said endless conveyor, said weft supply'means being provided with means for presenting an unlaid weft in a position to be gripped by saidweft gripper, means associated with said' weft carrying arm for opening and closing said gripper in timed relation with the movement; of said conveyor and said rotatable member, whereby the weft gripper grips the weft from said weft supply means, the movement of the endless'conveyor and the rotatable member adjacent said warps being from the shedding means toward the take-up means, whereby the weft supply means carries one end of said'weft, and the weft carrying arm carries the other end of said weft and thereby positions it adjacent the last laid weft.

14. In a weaving loom wherein a shedding means has a plurality of warps running therethrough and a take-up means is provided for the woven material, a weft laying mechanism for flat strip wefts comprising a horizontally rotatable member positioned adjacent one side of said warps, an endless conveyor positioned adjacent the opposite side of said warps, the conveyor and the rotatable member each being positioned between the shedding means and the take-up means, the conveyor, the rotatable member and the shedding means being driven in timed relationship with each other, a weft carrying arm carried by said rotatable member and spaced from the axis thereof, gear means associated with said arm, a stationary gear element concentric with the axis of said rotatable member and cooperating with said gear means for holding the arm at a predetermined angle with respect to said warps during rotation of said rotatable member, whereby said arm will be rotatably moved transversely across said warps, a vertically opening weft gripper carried by said weft carrying arm, a weft supply bobbin positioned on said endless conveyor, said weft supply bobbin being provided with an opening for presenting an unlaid weft in a horizontal position to be gripped by said weft gripper, means associated with said weft carrying arm for opening and closing said gripper in timed relation with the movement of said conveyor and said rotatable. member, whereby the weft gripper grips the flat weft strip carried by said weft'supply means, the. movement of. the endless conveyor and the rotatablemember adjacent. said warpsv being from theshedding means toward the take-up means, whereby the weft supply means carries one end of a fiat weft strip horizontaliy and the weft carrying arm car ries-the other end of a flat weft strip horizontally and thereby positions it adjacent the last laid Weft. i 15. In a weaving loom wherein a shedding means has a plurality of warps running therethrough and a take-up means is provided for the woven material, a weft laying mechanism comprising a rotatable member atone side of said an endless conveyor at the opposite side of said warps, the conveyor and the rotatable. member each being positioned between the shed-' ding means andthe take-pp means, the conveyor; the rotatable member, and the shedding meansbeing driven in timed relation with one another, a puraity of weft carrying arms carried by said rotatable member, a gear means associated'with' said arms for holding them at a predetermined angle with respect to said warps during rotation of said rotatable member, whereby saidarms will be rotatably moved transversely across said warps, a weft gripper carried by each of said weft carrying arms, a plurality of weft s'upply means positioned on said endless conveyor, said weft supply means each being provided with means for presenting an unlaid weft in a position tobe gripped by a cooperating weft gripper,

" means associated with said weft carrying arms for opening and closing said grippers in timed re -f latio'n with the movement of said conveyor and said rotatab e member, whereby a weft gripper grips the weft carried by a cooperating weft supply. means, the movement of the endless conveyor and the rotatable member adjacent said warps being from the shedding means toward the take-up means, whereby one weft supply means carries one end of a weft and one weft carrying arm carries the other end of a weft and thereby positions it adjacent the last laid weft.

16. In a weavin loom wherein a shedding means has a plurality of warps running therethrough and a take-up m ans is provided for the woven mat rial a weft layiin: mechani m comprising a rotatable member at one side of said warps. an endless conveyor at the opposite side of said warns. the conveyor and the rotatable member each, being positioned between the shedding means and the tape-up means, the conveyor, the rotatable member and the shedding means being driven in timed relation with one another, a weft carrying arm carri d by said rotatable member, ear a sociated with said arm for holding it at a predetermined angle with respect to said shed during rotation. of said rotatable member, whereby said arm will be rotatably moved transversely across said warps, a weft gripper carried 7 by said weft carrying arm, a weft supply means positioned on said endless conveyor, the movement of the endless conveyor and the rotatable member adjacent said warps being from the shedding means toward the take-up means, whereby the weft supply means carries one end of a weft and the weft carrying arm carries the other end of a weft and thereby positions it adjacent the last laid weft.

' 17. In a weaving loom wherein a shedding means has a plurality of warps running therethrough and a take-up means is provided for the woven material, a weft laying mechanism comprising a weft laying member, an endless conveyor positioned between said shedding means and said take-up means, and weft supply means mounted on said conveyor and provided with a weft guide member positioned with an opening for said weft in predetermined angular relationship with respect to said warps, the movement of said conveyor being toward said take-up means, said conveyor and weft supply means in cooperation with said Weft laying member carrying said weft adjacent the last laid weft.

18. In a weaving loom wherein a shedding means has a plurality of warps running therethrough and a take-up means is provided for the woven material, a weft laying mechanism comprising a weft laying member provided with a weft gripper, and endless conveyor positioned between said shedding means and said take-up means, weft supply means mounted on said conveyor and provided with a weft guide member positioned with an opening for said weft in predetermined angular relationship with respect to said warps, tension means for holding said weft in said opening, the movement of said conveyor being toward said take-up means, said weft supply means holding one end of said Weft in cooperation with said weft laying member holding the opposite end of said weft to carry it adjacent the last laid weft, and a weft severing means adjacent said weft supply means.

19. In a weaving loom wherein a shedding means has a plurality of warps running therethrough and a take-up means is provided for the woven material, a weft laying mechanism comprising a weft laying member operating from one side of said warps, an endless conveyor positioned between said shedding means and said take-up means at the opposite side of said warps, weft bobbins mounted on said conveyor and provided with a weft guide member positioned with an opening for said weft in predetermined angular relationship with respect to said warps, the movement of said conveyor being toward said take-up means, said conveyor and weft bobbins in cooperation with said weft laying member carrying said weft to the beat up position.

20. In a weaving loom wherein a shedding means has a plurality of warps running therethrough and a take-up means is provided for the woven material, a weft laying mechanism for fiat weft strips comprising a weft laying member, provided with a vertically opening Weft strip gripper for holding one end of a weft strip in a fiat horizontal position, an endless conveyor positioned between said shedding means and said take-up means, weft supply means mounted on said conveyor and provided with a weft guide member positioned with an opening for said weft in predetermined angular relationship with respect to said warps, said guide being provided with means for holding said weft strip in a fiat horizontal position, the movement of said conveyor being toward said take-up means, said conveyor and said weft supply means in cooperation with said weft laying member carrying said flat weft strips adjacent the last laid weft strip..

WILFRID HEYNES EDWARDS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,027,995 Cruikshank et al. May 28, 1912 2,180,831 Libby Nov. 21, 1939 

